Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer Graham Nash has been named Surround Music Artist of the Year by the First Annual Surround Music Awards (SMAs) for his DVD-Audio disc Songs for Survivors (DTS Entertainment). The recording, his first solo album in more than 15 years, was actually released on the DVD-Audio format prior to its stereo Compact Disc introduction.

Nash will be formally recognized along with the winners of the 11 other Surround Music Award categories in a ceremony hosted by producer Phil Ramone during the Fourth Annual Surround 2002 Conference & Showcase on the evening of December 13 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Ramone will also present the First Surround Pioneer Award to "the Godfather of 5.1 Mixing" Elliot Scheiner.

Finalists for the Surround Music Artist of the Year award included Pete Townshend for Music From Lifehouse [Eel Pie Productions/Image Entertainment]; Ringo Starr for The Best of Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band So Far [Image Entertainment]; and Alexandr Jero for Space or Dream of Life [Surround Records].

Other award nominee highlights include: Live at Royal Albert Hall - The Who & Special Guests, which led the nominations with a total of five including Best of Show. Nitty Gritty Sound - from John McEuen and Jimmy Ibbotson w/Jennifer Warnes - and A Night at the Opera - from Queen - both received four nominations including Best of Show.

On the strong showing of A Night at the Opera, DTS Entertainment garnered a total of 10 nominations edging out Image Entertainment, which received nine. 5.1 Entertainment took home eight nominations while Sony Music totaled six.

The final nominees in each category were selected by a blue ribbon judging panel of industry professionals from submissions entered by record companies, studios, and recording artists.

BEST CONCERT VIDEO
The Fabulous Thunderbirds Live - The Fabulous Thunderbirds [DTS Entertainment]
Music from Lifehouse -Pete Townshend [Eel Pie Productions/Image Entertainment]
The Best of Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band So Far - Ringo Starr [Image Entertainment]
Live at Royal Albert Hall - The Who & Special Guests [Image Entertainment]
Live in NY - Bruce Springsteen [Sony (Columbia)]

BEST MULTICHANNEL REISSUE
A Night at the Opera - Queen [DTS Entertainment]
"Who Are You" - CSI - The Who [Hear No Evil]
JT - James Taylor [Sony (Columbia)]
American Beauty - Grateful Dead [Warner Bros.]
The Last Waltz - The Band [Warner Bros.]